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Bear Hunting Over Bait in Maine
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I said I’d never do it again. After the outrage, insults and hatred over my article about bear baiting in Bangor Daily News, I vowed to never write about this topic again. Hunters who shoot their deer while they eat apples under a tree called me lazy. They’re hunting over bait, did nothing to get the bait there, and thought I was being lazy. So here goes. I’m writing about it this year, from start to whatever the finish is, hopefully me tagging a bear. I will educate open minds. Here’s a chance to form an opinion based on facts rather than emotion.
So far I have:
- spent three years learning about bait and baiting, hunting, choosing a site
- how to climb a ladder without dying of freight
- how to climb a ladder while carrying a pack and rifle
- spent around 100 hours in a tree stand
- not taken a shot then that I’d take today, because I didn’t want to screw up
The barrel I’ve hunted over most often.
Before July 29 I need to:
- talk with a landowner to get permission to place a bait on his property. I have to have that in writing and keep it with me while I hunt. I don’t think I’ll have a hard time getting permission.
- get a 55 gallon barrel.
- have Steve cut a hole in the barrel
- find a 55 gallon barrel of bait (sweets)
- get chain to secure the barrel to a tree so the bears can’t steal it
- find a site on the land and prep it for hunting
- make a 2″ x 4″ label with my name and contact info to place at the bait so wardens know who it belongs to
Before opening day, August 26
- tend bait, starting at “often” and building up to daily
- increase strength so I can drawn back 50+ pounds on my bow in case I choose to use my bow rather than my .308
- place the game cam so I can see what’s coming to the bait
- move my tree stand to the site
- consider a ground blind
- Buy a new Thermacell unless ours show up
During the season
- tend bait daily
- hunt
I’ve probably missed something and will add it later. I’ll be writing and photographing this as I go. No lies. 100% truth because there’s nothing to hide. I want you to learn about bear baiting with an open mind. I hated baiting until I opened my mind, swallowed my attitude and made the time to learn.
